People that know us, know of our passion for reading and the importance we put on it (our kids probably knew it a bit more than they wanted to when they were young). I don’t know if I can identify anything that I personally believe leads to happiness and success in life more than literacy […]
Charities
Charity Introduction – Recycle Bikes for Kids
In sticking, for one more day, with the bike theme, today’s charity in Little Rock Arkansas is Recycle Bikes for Kids. As the name implies this group pledges to provide a bike for any child that wants one, up to the age of 16. Volunteers find, fix and shine up the bikes for their new […]
Charity Introduction – Gateway Off-Road Cyclists
Sometimes a relatively simple cause becomes a full blown organization. In 1998 a handful of mountain bikers got together to help with the design and construction of a multi-use trail in a new park; today that group is the advocacy voice of mountain bikers for an entire region. The scope of todays charity focus in […]
Charity Introduction – Women Helping Other Women
Women Helping Other Women (WHOW) is a Tulsa based organization with a dual focus I find particularly attractive. While a self-mentoring, educating, and networking group for women to help them “reach their full potential through education, career advancement, and business opportunities” the group simultaneously “supports local organizations which include women’s shelters, women in poverty, mentor-ship […]
Charity Introduction – Real Men Real Leaders
Probably the largest regret of my trip is the fact that I didn’t discover our Kansas spotlight charity Real Men Real Leaders in time to see if I could do something directly with them. This organization really excites me, and is structured in a way that I could have perhaps actively contributed during my time […]
Charity Introduction – Little Miracles
In an interesting twist of fate, our charity for Texas and our lodging here in Amarillo have a bit of a connection. Not direct, but still, there is something. When talking to our host last night about how she got started with Airbnb, she shared that the first people to stay with her were some […]
Charity Introduction – Kindred Spirits
As their website points out, frequently in this country, we consider our animals “disposable” when they get beyond a certain age or level of productivity. I’ve never liked this notion (or approach) so I was encouraged and delighted when I was introduced to Kindred Spirits, an eldercare/hospice sanctuary for animals and our charity spotlight for […]
Charity Introcuction – The Zaadii Foundation
As various members of my family will attest, one of my biggest pet peeves is people abusing the privilege of driving. Although all forms of inattentive or irresponsible driving chafe me, only drinking and driving raises my hackles faster than sending text messages while driving. This brings me to our Arizona “charity,” The Zaadii Foundation. […]
Charity Introduction – TURN
In 1973 a group of Utah parents were concerned. Their children with developmental disabilities were growing up and the options for them as adults were very limited. Typically at that time, if you were developmentally disabled and hit adulthood you were either institutionalized, or stayed at home unable to actively participate in society. Banding together […]
Charity Introduction – Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
I like Las Vegas. It’s not the lights or the glitz or 24 hour everything I like though, it’s the collection of people. Walking down the strip at almost any time of day (or night) you will over hear conversations in a variety of languages, see every manner of dress and witness interactions, not only […]